Mac-The-Cat Around The World

Travel Photography

2012-10-06T14:04:00.001+00:00

It's been a looong time since my last post... mostly due to the recent redesign of Photoburst.net, a Travel Photography website I co-founded 4 years ago, which some of you might already know.

It's basically a photo of the day contest. Everyday we publish one of the best travel photos that we get submitted and, every month, there are 4 weekly winners as well as one overall winner who wins a $50 gift certificate to Kiva. In addition, in even numbered months, he/she also gets the chance to be our guest editor in the following month.

So, this is how it looks nowadays. Each picture fills your entire browser window and you may toggle the information about its author, description, location, technical details and camera and lens that were used simply by hovering your mouse in the bottom section of the page or, alternatively, by clicking the picture anywhere...

... in this case, you'll also get a huge google map containing the most recent pictures' location. (pictured above, the world map section, which actually contains the location of all the photos published so far!).

Make sure you also click on "Travel Capsule" and let us take you away! :)

So, to get your daily fix of outstanding travel pictures from around the world just click here... and to submit your best shots for a chance to win the coveted Photo of the Month award, click here.

"À la prochaine", Madagascar

2011-08-24T11:14:00.003+00:00

The salt fields near Belo-Sur-Mer.

Bottle Baobabs.

The Milky Way just above my bungalow.

... a couple more pirogues at sunrise, on the way back to Morondava.

Sailing...

Belo-Sur-Mer

2011-08-24T11:02:00.002+00:00

Some fishermen going out at sunrise.

Others returning with their daily catch.

Five.

Belo-Sur-Mer's photogenic sandbars.

Morondava to Belo-Sur-Mer II

2011-08-24T10:40:00.002+00:00

Woke up at 4 am...

... sailed at dawn...

... and reached Belo-Sur-Mer after lunch, totaling 10h by pirogue. Where's the Voltaren when you need it?

A pregnant cat at Le Corail (bungalows).

Morondava to Belo-Sur-Mer I

2011-08-24T10:39:00.000+00:00

Meet Bernard (above) and Djiny (below), two "piroguier" I was lucky enough to meet and who took me down to Belo-Sur-Mer. Within 30 minutes the price was agreed upon and their pirogue all set and ready to go.

Djiny at the helm and making the sail smile.

Three hours after departure, Bernard and Djiny wisely foresaw strong winds down the coast (imperceptible to me) and decided to stop at a fishermen village unaccessible by land... sometimes good luck comes unannounced :)
Trading pictures for smiles with a group of local kids who didn't speak a word of French.

Down the beach.

It gets chilly in the evening, after all it's winter here. Lobster, anyone?

Morondava

2011-08-19T20:35:00.002+00:00

Searching.

Talking.

Looking.

Inner Madagascar II: Miandrivazo to Morondava

2011-08-19T16:45:00.008+00:00

Bath time for a couple of zibus.

Second leg (4h) of the journey completed. Arrived at Morondava, found out that Belo-Sur-Mer is another 4h away (even though it's 30km from Morondava on a straight line), arranged (a kind) of accommodation and, to complete the role of a well behaved tourist, visited the renowned Avenue de Baobabs.

Wish you could see the true colors...

Growing up.

Trying to get a different shot of the Avenue de Baobabs.

Antananarivo to Miandrivazo

2011-08-19T15:28:00.002+00:00

Driving through central Madagascar on our first leg (7 hours) of the journey to Morondava. The scenery changed every 30 minutes: sometimes it looked like home, other times like Mexico, or Vietnam, etc.

Almost feel bad for taking pictures from a car, but who can resist a smile?

Monsieur Tina, our driver, was ready to do backflips at the end of the drive if need be. On my end, I was barely able to take a 20 minute walk at sunset before crashing into bed. Miandrivazo.

Mix

2011-08-16T20:14:00.003+00:00

"Hello". Nosy Komba.

Crater Bay market. Nosy Be.

Crater Bay, Nosy Be.

Palm Beach, Nosy Be.

Nosy Komba IV

2011-08-16T19:38:00.005+00:00

A typical pirogue gliding.

Local young fisherman.

My new friend.

Nosy Komba III

2011-08-16T19:33:00.002+00:00

Nosy Komba at sunset.

Going back in time...

Nosy Komba II

2011-08-16T19:14:00.002+00:00

Evening shower at the down the road water source.

Consciousness: that annoying time between naps.

Playstation, Wi and Gamebox.

Local colors.

Late afternoon fishing.

Nosy Komba I

2011-08-16T14:59:00.002+00:00

Traditionally embroidered towels flowing with the cool winter breeze.

Kids + Water = Play

A local gymnast.

Two friends chatting.

Ankify II

2011-08-16T14:05:00.002+00:00

A black lemur / squirrel / tarzan :)

A female black lemur fails to grab a banana.

Ankify

2011-08-14T07:19:00.003+00:00

Bliss moment at Ankify.

Nap time.

I'll miss you.

Ankify.

Ankify.

Sailing

2011-08-14T07:09:00.003+00:00

From Mamoko to Ankify.

Mamoko island II

2011-08-14T06:58:00.001+00:00

A cute female black lemur.

Nham, nham!

This is Mamoko island only village. The remotest place I've ever been to.

Mamoko island

2011-08-13T11:09:00.005+00:00

Ah, the Indian Ocean.

Mamoko island. I called this beach Spooky beach.

Local fishermen. Mamoko island.

Hell-Ville and Crater Bay

2011-08-13T11:00:00.004+00:00

View from our Renault 4 taxi, on our way from Hell-Ville. Most taxi drivers keep their 1L fuel tank on the floor of the passenger seat... so, stopping for fuel is done quite often :)

I guess this is Africa. Crater Bay, Nosy Be.

Pirogue

2011-08-13T10:37:00.002+00:00

Crater Bay, Nosy Be, Madagascar

Hell-Ville, Nosy Be

2011-08-04T07:44:00.003+00:00

(yet another quick post...)

On the way to Hell-Ville, Nosy Be.

Today we went to a birthday party (long story :)) and all the kids wanted a picture. More to come soon. Hell-Ville, Nosy Be.

And then we went to a local school where I got my first contract :) to photograph an English class for kids.

Back to the boat. Nosy Be.

Sleep Tight

2011-08-04T07:22:00.004+00:00

Night falls over Keturah. Nosy Sakatia towers.

Days 2, 3 and 4

2011-08-02T13:21:00.004+00:00

Daily catch of a 7 year old boy. Nosy Be.

Sailing is easy! Between Nosy Be and Nosy Sakatia.

Strolling around in Nosy Sakatia, we found this two hut village and people on their daily chores and just relaxing

On our way to get some fresh water. Sailing runs deep here.

Antananarivo to Nosy Be

2011-07-30T18:51:00.002+00:00

Somewhere over northern Madagascar. The american guy next to me was spending is first time ever outside USA, Utah in particular. He didn't pay that much attention to the view on the way up to Nosy Be... I probably could have helped by ungluing myself from the window. Couldn't help it and crashed shortly after this shot. Woke up with a sweated forehead against the dirty plastic (hmmm) to the rattling sound of the flight attendant announcing the descent to Nosy Be.

This time I hit the room-with-a-view-jackpot. Chanty Beach hotel, western coast of Nosy Be.

The Indian ocean. Smells different. Tastes different. I may get used to this :)

En Route: Room with a View

2011-07-28T23:27:00.005+00:00

Can't really smell the glamorous streets of Paris from here.